Velocipede usable as tricycle or scooter



Nov. 14, 1967 c. E. CORDREY 3,352,570

VELOCIPEDE USABLE AS TRICYCLE OR SCOOTER Filed Oct. 20, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. C424 6, Coeazar ATTOQA/FKS' V Nov. 14, 1967 c. E. CORDREY 3,352,570

VELOCIPEDE USABLE AS TRICYCLE OR SCOOTER Filed Oct. 20, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 614m 5. Coeoec-y Nov. 14, 1967 CQE. CO DREY 3,352,570

VELOCIPEDE USABLE AS TRICYCLE OR SCOOTER Filed Oct. 20, 1965 4 Sheets-Shet 5 TllEr-Y TiET-E INVENTOR. CAP; 5-, Coeaer-y Nov. 14, 1967 c. E. CORDREY 3,352,570

VELOCIPEDE USABLE AS TRICYCLE DR SCOOTER Filed Oct. 20, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOH. CAQL 6-,, Co/eaes-r ATTOQ/VE- United States Patent 3,352,570 VELOCIPEDE USABLE AS TRICYCLE 0R SCOOTER Carl E. Cordrey, 4710 N. Libby, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73122 Filed Oct. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 498,957 8 Claims. (Cl. 280-282) ABSTRACT IF THE DISCLOSURE A velocipede having a single front wheel inter-connected with a pair of horizontally spaced rear wheels by a framework. A seat is mounted on the framework and defines a relatively flat buttocks supporting area spaced rearwardly from a pair of side-by-side shin receiving depressions formed in the seat. The velocipede can thus be used as a conventional tricycle or as a scooter. Braking devices are mounted on the framework adjacent the rear wheels.

This invention relates to a velocipede which can be used in a conventional manner as a tricycle or which can be used as a scooter.

For many years, no notable innovations or changes have been made in the basic construction of tricycles, with such childrens vehicles 'being generally constructed with a seat, pedals provided on a large front wheel, a pair of rear wheels, and a frame interconnecting the wheels and supporting the seat. It is also true that there have been very few changes made in the basic constructions of wagons and scooters. In the case of both of these toys, the toy can be propelled by resting one foot or one leg on the toy and pushing the toy forward by placing the other foot in contact with the ground.

The present invention relates to a novel velocipede which can be utilized similarly to a tricycle, or which can be utilized as a scooter. In its basic construction, the veloci-pede of the invention is a three-wheeled vehicle having a framework interconnecting a large front wheel with two relatively smaller, horizontally spaced rear wheels. The velocipede further is provided with a novel seat positioned thereon and shaped so as to accommodate either the buttocks of the rider of the velocipede when the vehicle is used in the fashion of a tricycle, or, alternately, to accommodate and receive the shin or femur portion of one leg of a user of the velocipede so that it maybe pushed along in the manner of a scooter. The novel seat design of the velocipede greatly improves its versatility, and because of the manner of disposition of the seat with respect to the rear wheels, it is very diiiicult to overturn the velocipede when it is being used as a scooter.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the seat is further shaped so that two passengers may ride upon the velocipede when it is being used as a tricycle, or a single passenger may use the velocipede as a scooter or, if desired, even two individuals may simultaneously push the velocipede forward in scooter fashion. Preferred embodiments of the invention further include a foot actuated brake means by which the velocipede may be slowed or braked to a stop when it is being used as a tricycle, such brake means coacting with the rear wheels of the vehicle to provide a positive and effective braking action.

From the foregoing general description of the invention, it will have become apparent that it is a major object of the invention to provide a novel vehicle for use as a toy by children, which vehicle can be used in a variety of ways including use both as a tricycle and as a scooter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a velocipede which can effectively carry two seated passengers Patented Nov. 14, 1967 and which is supported on three horizontally spaced wheels.

A further object of the invention is to provide a velocipede having foot brakes which can be used to effectively slow or stop the velocipede.

In addition to the foregoing described objects and advantages, additional objects and advantages will become apparent as the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the velocipede.

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view of the velocipede depicting its appearance when viewed from the rear.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the velocipede depicted in FIGURES l and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the velocipede shown in FIGURE 1 with the seat of the velocipede removed to better illustrate the construction of the framework.

FIGURE 5 is a bottom elevational view showing the velocipede as it appears when viewed from below.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the velocipede of the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a rear elevational view of the velocipede depicted in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the velocipede illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 6 but with the seat of the velocipede removed.

FIGURE 10 is a bottom elevational view showing the modified embodiment of the velocipede as it appears when viewed from below.

Referring initially to FIGURE 1, one embodiment of the velocipede of the invention comprises a relatively large front wheel 10 which is journa'led in a bifurcated steering fork 12 which is rigidly secured to handlebars 14 in a manner conventional to tricycle construction. A framework designated generally by reference character 16 carries at its forward end a hub 18 which pivotally journals the gooseneck of the handlebars 14. The frame 16 includes a curved main support member 19 which extends rearwardly beneath a seat designated generally by reference character 20, and is welded or otherwise suitably secured at its opposite end to a U-shaped frame bracket 22. It should be pointed out that all welded connections hereinafter described can also be made detachable connections so that the velocipede can be disassembled and packaged in a relatively flat overall state for shipment.

A pair of relatively small rear wheels 24 are rotatably journaled on opposite ends of an axle 26. The axle 26 extends through a tubular axle housing 28 which passes through apertures 30 formed in the ends of the U-shaped frame bracket 22. Welded or otherwise suitably secured to the bi ght or web portion of the frame bracket 22 and extending transversely across the frame 16 and generally parallel to the axle 26 is a crossbar 32. The crossbar 32 projects beyond the opposite ends of the web portion of the frame bracket 22 and terminates with its opposite ends spaced slightly inwardly with respect to the rear wheels 24. The crossbar 32 is preferably of hollow tubular construction and sliding ly receives a brake rod 34 which is longer than the crossbar 32 and projects from opposite ends thereof.

At each of its opposite ends, the brake rod 34 has welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto a pair of foot brake plates 36. The foot brake plates 36 are generally L-shaped in configuration and have a substantially horizontally extending pressure surface 38 and a vertically extending braking surface 40. It will be noted that the braking surface 40 of each of the foot brake plates 36 extends to a position immediately adjacent the surface of the respective rear wheel 24 so that when the pressure surface 38 is depressed downwardly by the foot of a rider, the braking surface 40 is pivotally biased into frictional engagement with the respective rear wheels 24 of the velocipede. In order to assure that the brakes of the vehicle are not applied except by the positive action of depressing the pressure surface 38, a helical spring 42 is provided around opposite ends of the crossbars 32 and includes a horizontally projecting portion which bears against the under side of the pressure surface and resists downward depression of the pressure surface.

The seat 20 of the velocipede is an important feature of the present invention and its configuration is best ill-ustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. The seat is substantially larger than that which is normally employed on tricycles, and may be described as having an upwardly facing upper surface 50 and a downwardly depending skirt 52 which is secured to the peripheral edge of the upper surface 50 and extends downwardly therefrom at substantially a right angle. The. upper surface 50 of the seat 20 includes a pair of substantially parallel shin receiving depressions 54 which extend from the rear of the seat to points closely adjacent the forward end of the seat. The shin receiving depressions 54 are each elongated, substantially concave slots which are adapted by their shape to receive and support the shin or femur portion of a childs leg so that the child may use the velocipede as a scooter. It will also be noted that by virtue of the provision of the dual shin receiving depressions 54, two children can use the velocipede as a scooter simultaneously. It will further be noted that though the shin receiving depressions 54 are open at the rear thereof, they are closed at their forward ends by a rounded ridge 56 disposed at the forward end of the seat 20.

Adjacent its rear end, the seat 20 is shaped to provide a relatively flat seating surface 58 which is positioned just forward of a raised cantle 60. The cantle 60 is disposed centrally on the seat 20 so as not to interfere with or block the shin receiving depressions 54. The seat 20 is further shaped so that the rearward extensions of the ridge 56 which define the sides of the shin receiving depressions 54 are reduced in height immediately adjacent the seating surface 58 to permit the thighs of a rider seated on the seating surface to extend outwardly and forwardly from the seat without being cut or without the rider feeling uncomfortable. Although not depicted in FIGURES 1-3, it will be understood that the large front wheel of the velocipede can be provided with pedals to permit it to be propelled by one seated thereon although in this embodiment of the invention, it is contemplated that more frequently it will be desired merely to coast on the vehicle when the rider is in a seated position, or alternatively, to use the vehicle as a scooter. In either case, pedals of the type described will not be required.

A modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES -6-10. In these figures, identical reference numerals have been used to identify parts which are identical to elements which appear in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1-5, and which have been previously described herein. The major difference which exists between the construction of the modified embodiment shown in FIGURES 6-10, and the embodiment hereinbefore described and illustrated in FIGURES 1-5 is in the seat and frame construction of the two embodiments. The frame which is utilized in the modified embodiment is designated generally by reference character 60 and includes a main central support member 70. As illustrated in FIGURE 4, the central support member 70 has a contour which follows the surface of a seat 64 and provides support for the seat. The central support member 70 is provided with a hub 74 at the forward end thereof which pivotally journals the gooseneck of the handlebars 14. At its rear end, the central support member 70 is welded 'depressions 92 which or otherwise suitably secured to the tubular axle housing 28.

Welded or otherwise suitably secured to the central support member 70 are a pair of lateral support members 76 and 78. As illustrated in FIGURE 9, the lateral sup port members 76 and 78 are curved or arcuate in configuration, and are connected at their front ends to the central support member 70 at a point spaced rearwardly from the hub 74. The lateral support members 76 and 78 extend laterally outwardly from their points of connection to the central support member 7 0, and then extend downwardly and diver-gently from each other to points spaced upwardly from the commonplane occupied by the lower peripheral edges of the front wheel 10 and the rear wheels 24. In other words, the lateral support members 76 and 78 extend downwardly to points spaced above the ground when the vehicle is resting thereon. From these points, the lateral support members 76 and 78 are bent through approximately right angles and then extend rearwardly to the tubular axle housing 28 at the rear of the velocipede. Here the lateral support members are welded or otherwise secured to the rear axle housing 90 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4. The lateral support members 76 and 78 are then bent forwardly and are finally curved in and joined to the central support member 70 so as to provide support for the rear portion of the seat 64. A footrest bar 80 is secured to the lateral support members 76 and 78 at the points where these members undergo a bend and extend rearwardly as hereinbefore described.

The seat 64 of the modified embodiment of the velocipede illustrated in FIGURES 6-10 is of a novel configuration which permits the veloci-pede of the invention to function in a novel and useful manner. These functions may be generally described before referring specifically to the seat configuration as permitting two passengers to ride simultaneously upon the velocipede in a seated position, or permitting the velocipede to be used by either one or two persons as a scooter in which the shin of the operator is rested upon the seat and the vehicle is propelled along the ground using the other leg.

In referring to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, it will be perceived that the seat 64 of the velocipede includes an upwardly facing upper surface or top 90 which may be described as having a forward area 90a and a rearward area 0b. The rearward area 9011 is provided with a pair of substantially parallel fore-and-aft extending shin receiving are similar to those which have been hereinbefore described in referring to the embodiment depicted in FIGURES 1-5. A cantle 94 is provided at the rear edge of the seat 64 and is j-ust to the rear of a relatively flat seating area which can be used by one person to sit upon the velocipede while positioning the feet on the footrest bar 80. The forward portion 90a of the upper surface 90 is shaped as a second seating area and permits a second passenger to be seated on the velocipede, and to extend the legs to pedals 96 provided on the front wheel 10 of the velocipede in conventional tricycle fashion. It will be further noted in referring to FIGURE 1 that the seat 64 is provided with a pair of downwardly extending side skirts 98 which are secured to and extend downwardly from a peripheral edge of the seat 64. A rear skirt 100 is also provided on the seat 64 and extends downwardly from the upwardly facing top 90 to the rear axle housing 28. It will be noticed that in the illustrated construction, the skirt 100 is curved or bent inwardly and around the axle housing 28 so as to secure the seat 64 to the axle housing. Of course, other methods of securement may also be employed, such as welding. If desired, the skirt 100 can even be omitted from the construction since adequate support and points of securement for the seat 64 are provided by the framework 60.

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will be perceived that the novel velocipede herein described is 28 and are then bent upwardly. through an angle of approximately 7 versatile in the forms of amusement which it aifords to children using the vehicle, that it is sturdy in construction, and is characterized by a long and trouble-free operating life.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in order to provide a guide to those skilled in the art as to the construction and manufacture of the invention, it is to be clearly understood that certain modifications and innovations can be made in the invention without departure from the basic principles which underlie the invention. Insofar as such modifications do not depart from these basic principles, they are deemed to be circumscribed by the spirit and scope of the invention except as the same may be necessarily limited by the appended claims or reasonable equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A velocipede comprising:

a front wheel;

a pair of horizontally spaced rear wheels;

a frame interconnecting the front wheel and the rear wheels; and

a seat supported on said frame and having a pair of side-by-side shin receiving depression therein, and further having a wide, relatively fiat buttocks-supporting portion adjacent the edge thereof nearest said rear wheels and to the rear of said shin receiving depressions whereby a rider may sit upon said seat, or alternately, may kneel upon said seat to use the velocipede as a scooter said shin receiving depressions being disposed on opposite sides of the front to rear center line of said interconnecting frame whereby two persons may coast on said velocipede simultaneously by placing a shin in one of said depressions so that the weight of the two persons are balanced on the opposite sides of the front to rear axis of said (frame.

2. A velocipede as claimed in claim 1 wherein said seat further includes a relatively flat seating area positioned ahead of said shin receiving depressions and between said front wheel and said depressions so that two passengers can simultaneously sit on said seat on opposite sides of said shin receiving depressions.

3. A velocipede as claimed in claim 2 and further characterized to include a horizontal footrest bar secured to said frame and extending transversely thereacross, said footrest bar being spaced vertically below the forward ends of said shin receiving depressions.

4. A velocipede as claimed in claim 1 and further characterized to include brake means mounted on said framework and extending into juxtaposition to one of said wheels.

5. A velocipede as claimed in claim 1 and further characterized to include:

a crossbar extending transversely across said frame and secured thereto; and

foot brakes pivotally connected to the opposite ends of said crossbar and aligned with said rear wheels.

6. A velocipede as claimed in claim 5 and further characterized to include springs mounted on said crossbar and resiliently biasing said foot brakes out of contact with said rear wheels.

7. A velocipede as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rear wheels are secured to opposite ends of a horizontally extending axle and wherein said frame is connected at one of its ends to said axle.

8. A velocipede as claimed in claim 1 and further characterized to include:

a crossbar extending transversely across said frame and secured thereto; and

a foot brake pivotally connected to said cross bar and aligned with one of said rear wheels and in juxtaposition thereto lfor braking cooperation with said one Wheel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS KENNETH H. BETTS, Primary Examiner. 

1. A VELOCIPEDE COMPRISING: A FRONT WHEEL; A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY SPACED REAR WHEELS; A FRAME INTERCONNECTING THE FRONT WHEEL AND THE REAR WHEELS; AND A SEAT SUPPORTED ON SAID FRAME AND HAVING A PAIR OF SIDE-BY-SIDE SHIN RECEIVING DEPRESSION THEREIN, AND FURTHER HAVING A WIDE, RELATIVELY FLAT BUTTOCKS-SUPPORTING PORTION ADJACENT THE EDGE THEREOF NEAREST SAID REAR WHEELS AND TO THE REAR OF SAID SHIN RECEIVING DEPRESSIONS WHEREBY A RIDER MAY SIT UPON SAID SEAT, OR ALTERNATELY, MAY KNEEL UPON SAID SEAT TO USE THE 